Factories and warehouses are not known for being kind and gentle with the equipment they are using. This includes their electronic scales. If they are loaded by hand, heavy weights may be dropped directly onto the platform scale. Alternatively, they may be loaded using pallet jacks or forklifts which may bang against the digital scale. It may be necessary to move the platform scale around the factory floor, generally without any consideration for its well being. So it is very important for the industrial scale to be constructed with industrial strength.

The proverbial weak link in any electronic scale are its sensors. These devices are designed to develop an electrical signal that is precisely proportional to the amount of weight on the platform scale. Arlyn Scales produces these sensors from special alloys of stainless steel that are post processed for exceptional strength and ruggedness. Most other digital scales use aluminum or plated steel for their sensors. These are more susceptible to shock load damage.

While the platform scale must be strong, or it will quickly be destroyed, it must also be easy to use, or it will quickly be abandoned. Lifting heavy objects onto a high scale platform is not fun. The lower the profile of the scale, the easier it will be to use. Arlyn Scales takes advantage of the strength of the stainless steel material used to fabricate their sensors by designing a particularly low profile device. They then fabricate pockets directly into the frame of the industrial scale where the sensors are mounted. These two innovations result in a platform scale with one of the lowest profiles available anywhere. This makes them particularly popular with the people who have to lift their products onto or off of the scale platform.

Millions of drums are filled with thousands of different types of materials. Almost every industry uses 55 gallon drums to store and transport liquids, slurries and powders. This includes the food industry for storage of ingredients and finished products. The pharmaceutical industry uses drums of materials throughout their operations. Almost any commercial or industrial facility can store cleaning materials, waxes and other products in these drums. Inks and varnishes are available in drums for the printing industry. Of course the chemical industry is a prime producer and consumer of materials in drums.

All of the drums must at some time, of course, be filled. An operator at the filling location may simply use a valve to fill the drum for a fixed period of time. This may not be very accurate, as the material may flow differently at different temperatures and under different conditions. It may be filled by sight, as the operator may be able to see when the level in the drum is reaching the appropriate mark.

A drum scale is an excellent method of monitoring the amount of material that has been fed into the drum. Arlyn Scales provides high quality units that are manufactured to resist the types of abuse that may occur when forklifts or other drum handling equipment is used to load and unload these drums. Stainless steel load cells are used exclusively to prevent damage. The amount of material in the drum can be easily seen on the large digital display.

A programmable feature is offered to allow the user to determine the proper full weight of the drum. Electronic outputs can be used to automatically turn the filling device, such as a valve, pump, or motor, on and off at the correct weight. Often, more than one target weight can be chosen. The first would be used for a rapid fill. The second can control a trickle feed to bring the drum to the exact correct level.

Alpacas are animals that are closely related to llamas, and less closely related to camels. They originated in South America, especially in the Andes Mountains where their meat, and more importantly, the fiber from their coats was highly prized. Alpacas are raised by thousands of breeders, owners and small farmers in the United States. The animals are considered by some to be pets, by others to be a source of valuable fiber to be sheared and sold, and by others as in investment.

As with any other animal, alpacas must be carefully monitored for health. They receive a variety of dietary supplements, and when ill, must receive the proper dosage of medication. Alpacas vary significantly in size. Of course the baby animals, known as crias, are quite small. Adults may range up to 150 pounds, or even larger. When determining the correct amount of medication, it is critically important to know the weight of the animal.

Alpaca scales, such as those offered by Arlyn Scales, are designed specifically for that purpose. The scale platform is very low to the ground, making it easy for the animal to step up. For comfort, it is covered with a rubber mat. The indicator includes special software to accurately weigh an animal that will not stand still. The digital display on the alpaca scale has large, black, graphics digits, making the weight easy to see. Although the scale capacity is 500 pounds, the readability is one tenth of a pound, allowing accurate weights to be determined for even the smallest alpacas.

In addition, the alpaca scale can serve a dual purpose by using it to weigh the fiber from the sheared animals. With the excellent sensitivity provided the Arlyn Scale can accurately provide fiber weights for both statistical and marketing purposes.